In
the weeks leading up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a
detailed overview of each state in the U.S., including the District
of Columbia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will
list the state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best
tools, as well as providing scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2
players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists.

Contributing:
Allan SimpsonNorth Dakota State-by-State List2011 North Dakota Overview
North
Dakota Overview:Trio
of Anderson Arms Gives North Dakota Draft Ranks a LiftNorth
Dakota won't have an impact on the draft, although upper-Midwest
scouts certainly had a much easier time this spring seeing the
state’s prospects that warranted attention.
The
re-opening of the Metrodome in neighboring Minnesota and the
corresponding renewal of early-season spring tournaments and games in
that indoor venue was a boon to scouts after the Metrodome had been
closed in 2011 following the collapse of its roof during a snowstorm
the previous winter. In addition, historically-warm weather in the
northern states led to few cancelations during the spring season,
creating oddities such as North Dakota State actually playing all 56
of its regularly-scheduled games.
The
Bison responded to a disruption-free spring by becoming the dominant
college program in the state, posting a 38-18 record as it began
Summit League tournament play as a No. 3 seed. Moreover, it defeated
in-state rival North Dakota four straight times, contributing to that
school’s final 17-35 mark.
North
Dakota State’s success stemmed mostly from a solid pitching staff,
led by a trio of hard throwing, draft-eligible righthanders in junior
John Straka (7-4, 2.61, 103 IP, 14 BB/89 SO), fifth-year senior Luke
Anderson (8-3, 3.67) and junior Simon Anderson (2-1, 2.08). All were
clocked in the 88-92 mph range.
If
two Andersons weren’t enough for the Bison, that team also featured
senior outfielder Nick Anderson (.320-4-38), and little Mayville
State also contributed to the Anderson madness in the state this
spring with its own pitcher of note by the same name, Nick Anderson,
a senior righthander who featured outstanding command of
fringy-average stuff and went 5-2, 3.27 with only two walks vs. 40
strikeouts in 33 innings.
None
of the Andersons are related, though all the pitchers shared
something in common that all are big righthanders from Minnesota.
Most important, each generated at least some appeal this spring from
scouts.
The
two best college prospects in the state, though, may have been a pair
of promising freshmen in North Dakota State righthander David Ernst
and North Dakota two-way player Jeff Campbell. Ernst (6-0, 3.92) has
the arm strength and athleticism to develop into a legitimate draft
by his junior year, while the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Campbell, a Florida
high-school product, could also join Ernst in two years as a legit
prospect after hitting .314-11-41 while going 3-7, 6.16 on the mound
in 68 innings.North
Dakota in a nutshell:
STRENGTH:
North Dakota State pitching.WEAKNESS:
High-school talent.OVERALL
RATING
(1-to-5 scale): 3.BEST
COLLEGE TEAM:
North Dakota State.BEST
JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Williston
State.BEST
HIGH SCHOOL TEAM:
West Fargo HS.BEST
OUT-OF-STATE PROSPECT, North Dakota Connection:
Matt Strahm, lhp, Neosho County (Kan.) CC (Attended high school in
West Fargo).Top
2013 Prospect:
Tim Colwell, of, North Dakota State University.Top2014
Prospect:
David Ernst, rhp, North Dakota State University.HIGHEST
DRAFT PICKS
Draft
History:
Zac Elgie, 1b, Minot HS (2008, Athletics/12th round).2006
Draft: No
selection.2007
Draft: No
selection.2008
Draft: Zac
Elgie, 1b, Minot HS (Athletics/12th round).2009
Draft: Ryan
Bollinger, 1b, Magic City HS, Minot (Phillies/47th round).2010
Draft: Andy
Leer, ss, Mary University (Twins/25th round).2011
Draft: Alex
Kreis, rhp, Jamestown University (Nationals/35th round).2011
DRAFT OVERVIEW
College
Players Drafted/Signed:
1/1.Junior
College Players Drafted/Signed:
0/0.High
School Players Drafted/Signed:
1/0.BEST
TOOLS
Best
Athlete: Riley
Beck, of, University of North Dakota.Best
Hitter:
Nick Colwell, 1b, North Dakota State University.Best
Power:
Zach Wentz, rhp/3b, North Dakota State University.Best
Speed:
Riley Beck, of, University North Dakota.Best
Defender:
Riley Beck, of, University of North Dakota.Best
Velocity:
Luke Anderson, rhp, North Dakota State University.Best
Breaking Stuff:
John Straka, rhp, North Dakota State University.Best
Command: Nick
Anderson, rhp, Mayville State University.TOP
PROSPECTS, GROUPS ONE and TWONone3
PROSPECTS TO WATCH
SIMON ANDERSON, rhp,
North Dakota State University (Jr.)North Dakota State had
the rare luxury for a northern school to have a 6-foot-5, 215-pound
righthander throwing in the low-90s as the team’s set-up man, as
Anderson (2-1, 2.08, 2 SV) filled that role for closer Kyle Kingsley
(5-3, 1.93, 5 SV). Anderson has limited pitching experience as he was
a three-sport standout in high school in Bemidji, Minn., and threw
only 35 innings in his first two seasons with the Bison and 16 more
in the West Coast League last summer. While he generates his velocity
with little effort and could well have some more power in his arm,
Anderson is still working on his command and slider, although both
showed improvement throughout the spring.

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